Blood test service

Blood
tests are carried out to help in the diagnosis, care and treatment of various
health conditions and diseases and they may be requested by your GP, your
specialist team or nurse. They will give you a blood test form and provide you
with information about preparation for your test. This will include:

for glucose
tests* -
have nothing to eat for 10 hours; drink only tap water.

for
cholesterol tests - have nothing to eat for 12 hours; drink
only tap water

for fasting
lipids -
have nothing to eat for 12 hours; drink only tap water

drinking water makes it easier to take
your blood

please take all medication with water, as usual,
before your test; with the exception of
Digoxin which cannot be taken less than six hours before a
blood test

if you are having a fasting blood test, medication taken with
food will need to wait until after the test

If you
have been asked to have a glucose tolerance test please contact us to book an
appointment on 01634 333999. Please note that the test will take two hours to
complete.

Drop-in for your blood test

Our clinics are held at a choice of venues and are run on a drop-in basis - no appointment is necessary (apart from Grain Village Hall). This means you can choose when and where you have your blood test.

Due to the drop-in nature of our clinics, we may on occasion
have to change our clinic times at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances
such as staff sickness, or to allow us enough time to see those who are already waiting.

Blood tests for children

If your child needs a blood test you can either choose to attend the drop-in clinics or to have a booked appointment. Blood tests for children often require more time allocated in order for our staff to reassure them and for you to help calm them before the blood test is taken. A booked appointment means you have a set time for the test, which avoids any potential waiting time and so reduces your child’s anxiety levels prior to going in to the clinic.

Waiting times and possible closures

Due to high demands and occasionally, poorly patients, there can sometimes be a long wait for blood tests.

At times we may need to close the clinic early to ensure that all bloods taken are collected on time.

If you have any questions, or would like to find an alternative clinic, please ask a member of the phlebotomy team.

Where and when

Please call 01634 333999 or see the map below for information about clinic locations and times: